Genus LIMONIDROMUS, Gould, 1862.
The genus Limonidromus contains one species of Wagtail somewhat resembling the Pied Wagtails in colour, but the whole upper plumage is suffused with green. The structure of the tail in this genus is peculiar, inasmuch as the middle pair of feathers is very markedly shorter than the others and of a different colour. The sexes are quite alike.
The Forest- Wagtail is found in well-wooded parts of the country and frequently runs about under the shade of trees. On being disturbed it has the habit of perching on a branch. It wags its tail incessantly and does not differ from the other Wagtails in its general habits.
839. Limonidromus indicus. The Forest-Wagtail.
Motacilla indica, Gmel Syst. Nat. i, p. 962 (1788). Nemoricola indica (Gm.), Ulytft, Cat. p. 136; Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 353 ; Jerd. B. 1. ii, p. 226 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, p. 48. Limonidromus indicus (Gm.), Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi, p. 364 ; Lecjc/e, Birds Ceyl. p. 614; Hume, Cat. no. 595; Sharpe, Cat. B. M.'x, p. 532 ; Gates, B. B. i, p. 164 ; Barnes, Birds Bom, p. 241. The Black-breasted Wagtail, Jerd. ; Uzhalla-jitta, Tel.
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Fig. 82. Head of L. indicus.
Coloration. Plumage above dull olive-green, the tail-coverts dark brown or sometimes black ; ear-coverts and lesser wing-coverts also olive-green ; a supercilium from the bill over the eye to the nape, the cheeks, chin, throat, and all the lower plumage yellowish white ; two black bands across the breast, the upper one entire, the lower one broken in the middle ; median and greater wing-coverts black, with broad yellowish- white tips forming two bands across the coverts; quills brown, the second to the seventh primaries with a patch of yellowish white on the outer web near the base; all the primaries and secondaries with an abrupt margin of yellowish white near the tip on the outer web ; tertiaries brown, broadly tipped with olive-green ; middle pair of tail-feathers similar to the back; the next three pairs dark brown ; the next pair brown with a large white tip ; and the outer pair all white, except at their base, where they are brown.
Irides nearly black; upper mandible dusky brown, lower mandible fleshy white ; legs and feet purplish white ; claws horny white (Armstrong).
